Geotechnical study in Benissanet

In Benissanet, the subsoil is dominated primarily by sandstone, conglomerate and flysch formations, accompanied by smaller proportions of fine sands, silts, and gravels, which generally provides good bearing-capacity levels and versatile foundation options. However, the presence of a small percentage of gypsum, anhydrite and salts introduces a dissolution risk, a factor that must be assessed before selecting the most suitable foundation type. In addition, the low near-surface permeability makes it necessary to examine in depth the presence of any aquifers and their impact on the geotechnical behaviour of the soils.

The municipality’s seismicity is considered moderate, with 30 events over thirty years and a maximum magnitude of 2.5, which implies a low seismic risk for structural design. It is important to highlight that possible karstified processes must be investigated in those areas with carbonate materials and the presence of gypsum, since the existence of cavities can locally compromise the stability of foundations. The key conditioning factor for the geotechnical study in Benissanet is the verification of karstification and dissolution processes, above the risk of expansivity, which is ruled out by the non-clayey nature of the materials.